Jesse Paul Carr sentenced to prison

Christopher Walker/Times Record News
A Wichita County deputy escorts Jesse Paul Carr from the 89th District courtroom Wednesday afternoon after a jury found him guilty of indecency with a child.

WICHITA FALLS - Jesse Paul Carr has been sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison for indecency with a child.

The same jury convicted Carr of the offense on Wednesday.

Several family members were questioned by prosecution and defense attorneys during the punishment phase in 89th District Court Thursday.

Their testimony helps the jury make a determination of what sentence might be appropriate, and Starla Jones, prosecuting attorney, detailed a disturbing sexual history from Carr's past.

Several other victims, at least four, were discussed, in addition to the young child Carr was accused of engaging in indecency. The incident at the heart of the trial was one in which Carr fondled himself in the child's presence.

Carr admitted telling therapists about participating in sexual acts inappropriate while in therapy after being adjudicated for molesting a 3-year-old girl in 2002 when he was 14 years old.

Carr admitted, while taking a lie detector test as part of his sexual therapy, to participating in group sex as well as other events that could be a violation of his probation, according to one of his therapists, Dr. David Sabine.

Carr's mother, grandmother and step-grandfather all testified that probation would be the best option for him, despite learning of his other offenses.

His step-grandfather said the prison system is broken, and if we do not learn to appropriately treat sex offenders, the problem will never be fixed.

Carr opted not to testify in his defense during the sentencing phase.

The court broke for lunch at 11:30 a.m. and will resume testimony at 1 p.m.

The jury is expected to enter deliberations shortly after returning from lunch.